Charleston police support closure of controversial sandwich shop

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Kanawha County magistrate has evicted the operators of a controversial business in North Charleston.

Magistrate Mike Sisson agreed with building owner Sharon Whiting that those who run Ms Sylvia’s Sandwich Shop and Polo Social Club should be removed from the premises by the end of the month.

Charleston Police Chief Brent Webster and other police officers were on hand for the hearing in support of the eviction. A man was shot at the club in early July and police raided the establishment last weekend in connection with concerns about the illegal sale of alcohol and the possession of guns and drugs.

“We have a terrible mess. It has become a nuisance,” Chief Webster said. “I applaud Magistrate Sisson for doing what he can do. There’s as lot of due process in this stuff.”

County prosecutors also Wednesday filed to revoke the bond on previous charges filed against Rodney Armstrong and Emma Laughlin (McNeal) that run the establishment. That could put them in jail.

Chief Webster said if the club is allowed to continue to operate someone could be seriously injured or killed.

“We’re really nervous. We’ve seen places over the years that operate in a criminal fashion and this is one of them,” Webster said.

The police department’s SWAT team found guns, drugs, alcohol and thousands of dollars in cash in last weekend’s raid. Chief Webster said a confidential informant told police there’s one charge for those entering the establishment without guns and a more expensive charge for those who have guns.

“They will allow people to carry their guns into the place if they pay 50-dollars,” Webster said.

The days of Ms Sylvia’s Sandwich Shop may be numbered. Chief Webster hopes so.

“North Charleston residents need relief and to be honest with you the police need relief. We are spending a lot of time and resources down there,” Webster said.